Angus McNae's Thursday tips: Nordic can light up Royal Ascot

I was delighted to see Without Parole win the St James's Palace Stakes on Tuesday.

Not just because I had a few quid on him and have been championing his cause ever since he fired a sensational Timeform Speed Figure at Yarmouth earlier this season.

Horses very rarely produce such figures at such an early stage of their career and that was an indication that a Group One win was just around the corner. And the fact that he has achieved that, and the signs that Calyx was also a potential top-nothcer, now really is evidence of the highest order of the importance of speed figures in this game.

They should be a key aspect to your punting armoury, if they are not already.

I was impressed with his win in a fast time at Newmarket a couple of starts ago.

On the back of that I thought he would go close in the Dante Stakes at York. Unfortunately, despite being very well supported, he was unsuited by the relative test of speed that the race turned into and he finished fifth to Roaring Lion.

A good gallop would have seen him to much better effect and that is something he should benefit from in the Hampton Court.

At around 8-1 he looks tremendous value to confirm and improve upon what he showed us at Newmarket. Having James Doyle on board is an added bonus.

This is an excellent renewal of the Gold Cup with the likes of Order of St George and Stradivarius in there, but I cannot resist a small wager on this horse who is ridden by Christophe Soumillon. They are a match made in heaven.

Soumillon knows this horse inside out and both he and his partner produced a brilliant display to win the Dubai Workd Cup in March.

He also won a Group Two cozily last time out from the recent York winner Marmelo.

His bare form always hides his ability because he only ever does enough and needs delivering late by the Belgian.

I can see him being ultra patient here and charging late to deal with those whose hands were played earlier. This could be a Soumillon masterclass and it should be a joy to watch.